Journal-lubricator.



F. LOEDIGE.

JOURNAL LUBRICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I9, 191s.

Llo Patented July 6, 1915.

V15 i6 j@ iiiviTnn sTaTns TaTnnT @einen FREDERICK LOEDIGE, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JOURNAL LUBRICATOR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

JOURNAL-LUBRICAI'OR.-

meshes;

Specification of Letters Patent.,

Patented July 6, I9I5.

Application led J' une 19, 1913.l Serial No. 774,500.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK LoEDiGn, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have vinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Journal-Lubricators, of which the following is a description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of myspecification.

My invention relates to lubricators more especially adapted for use inconnection with journals or axles; the device being intended to belocated in the journal bearings of locomotives and railway cars, wherebya constant lubrication of the car axles or journals and the axles oflocomotives may be obtained.

The object of the invention is to provide means in which a lubricant ofmore or less solid consistency is especially intended to be employedinstead of oil waste and the like; and also the use of a liquidlubricant is elminated, as both `latter mentioned methods are more orless objectionable in railway practice.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a construction, theoperation whereof wilLbe automatic and result in a constant feeding ofthe lubricantto the journal or` axle in a uniform manner.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of as simple aconstruction as possible, adapted to be secured between the lower sidesor ends of the pedestals of a journal bearing; and wherein the lubricantapplying means is yieldingly maintained in close relation with the axleor journal to be lubricated; and again, wherein ready access may be hadto the lubricant-containing chamber or holder without the necessity ofemploying special appliances or tools for the removal of parts; theconstruction being such that the holder may be re-charged with lubricantfrom time to time Without the necessity of removing the entire devicefrom its normal or operative position beneath the journal or axle andwithin the journal bearing.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device whereinthe lubricant will be maintained under constant pressure, without thenecessity, however, of subjecting the pressure applying' mechanism,whereby the lubricant is fed or applied to the axle or journal, to anyundue strains or weight, as the pressure applying mechanism in myimproved construction is not subjected to the weight of the mass oflubricant andl the weight of the applying plate or means, as inconstructions heretofore employed.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of suchconstruction that the cost of manufacture and maintenance will bematerially reduced over that of constructions as heretofore employed,and whereby the extent or amount of the supply of lubricant within theholder or device will be readily indicated; and, furthermore, whereinthe possibility for leakage of the lubricant is substantially entirelyeliminated; the construction possessing other advantages which will beapparent from the following detailed description.

In the drawing z-Figure 1 is a. longitudinal sectional view of myimproved device shown Aapplied to ajournal. Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional view taken on the line 2 2 f Fig. l and looking in thedirection of the arrows. F ig. 3 is an inverted perspective view of myimproved holder. Fig. @I is a perspective detail view of the cover plateor member.

In the particular adaptation of my invention, I illustrate the same inconnection with the journal box of a locomotive, it being understood,however, that the invention can be adapted to yany journal bearing,whether applied to the driver of a locomotive, the axle or journal of arailway car, or other journals or axles, as the invention permits of itsuse in connection with any form of journal box or bearing.

In the exempliiic'ation, my invention is shown applied to a locomotiveframe provided with the usual pedestal columns 6, 6,

which are located inside of the driver;

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the holder portion A being of any suitable L formation, preferablyrectangular as shown in Figs. 1` and 3, with the one end thereofterminating in the trough portion B, which is preferably madesubstantially semi-cylindrical as shown in Fig. 3, so as to adapt it tothe lower side of the axle or journal C.

As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the holder portion A' of the device isintended Ito eX- tend to the side of the journal bearing, while thetrough portion B extends within the journal bearing and normally intoclose relation with the lower side of the journal or axle to belubricated; the device inthe construction shown in the drawing beinglocated on the hub side of the wheel.

The journal box or bearing 7 is provided with the usual journal brass orbearing 10, which is maintained in proper position in the usual mannerby inwardly presented shoulders or llugs on the journal box; the latterbeing so constructed, however, as not to come into contact with thejournal or axle C.

Thel holder portion .A of the lubricating device is provided with asuitable piston or plunger 11, preferablycup-shape with the edgespresented inwardly as clearly shown i1r-Fig. 1; the central portion ofthe plunger being provided with a threaded opening to receive thethreaded end of a rod or pipe 12. In order that the plunger proper maybe made of thin sheet metal of sufficient strength to perform thefunction necessary, I prefer to provide the plunger with a boss or hubportion 11iL having a threaded opening part-way therethrough to receivethe end of the rod or pipe 12; the boss or hub portion 11a being securedto the plunger' proper in any. suitable manner.

The outer end ofthe holder portion A is provided with a suitable cap orcovering plate 13 held in place in any suitable manner, as for exampleby the pins 1-.L extending through perforations in opposite sides of theholder portion, as clearly shown in Fig.

1, whereby outward movement of the cover or cap 13 is prevented. Thecover or cap 13 is provided with a central opening as shown at 15 of asize sufficient to permit rod or pipe 12 to extend therethrough; and therod or pipe l12 is preferably made of a length slightly greater thanthelength of the chamber or holder A, so that when the plunger or piston11 is at the innermost point of its travel within the holder or chamberA, a suflicient portion of rod or pipe 12 will still extend through thecover or cap 13.

Intermediate of the plunger or piston 11 and cover or cap 13, I provideIa spring 16, preferably in the nature of a helical spring asillustrated, which will permit the plunger to be drawn out to a point inclose pro-ximity to cover or cap 13 when the chamber or holder A isfilled with the lubricant mass. The spring 16 is of such constructionthat it will force the plunger or piston 11 to the innermost end ofchamber or holder A; the spring resting against and preferably securedto the cover or cap 13, with the inner -or reduced end. thereofencircling the hub At the inner end of the holder A, the' lower wallpreferably curves upward as clearly shown at 17, see Figs. 1 and 3, andthen extends or .flares sidewise into the shallow pan or trough portionB in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 3 wherein the holder is shown inperspective in an inverted position. The trough portion B preferablybecomes shallower toward the innermost end thereof orrather toward theopposite side of the bearing as very clearly shown in Fig. 1; thedecreasing vertical dimension of the trough portion being preferablyinduced by the upwardly sloping bottom 18, so that the shallowest partof the trough is at the point farthest removed from the plunger.

, The bottom 18 of the trough portion B, is preferably provided with aboss or lug 19 at a point adapted to register with the opening `Sb inthe platform or plate 8 of the bearing.`

`nal boxl or bearing, but will also prevent more or less lateralmovement of the lubricating device. The sides and ends of the troughportion B are presented upwardly as clearly shown at 18*1 and 1Sbrespectively, see Figs. 1 and 3, so as to prevent the leakage oflubricant and also to receive the downwardly bent edges of theconcavo-convex cover plate 20, which' latter is adapted to fit over thetrough portion as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with its downwardlybent edges telescoping or preferably on the inside of the upturned edges18a and 18h of trough portion B.

The plate 20 is intended to engage with the under surface of the journalor axle; and in its preferred form is corrugated lon- `bricant device isiny normal or operative position; while the Vfshape chambers or valleysintermediate of the ridges of the plate are preferably provided with aseries of slots as clearly indicated at 21, to afford communication withthe interior of the.

trough portion B. These slots 21 allow the lubricant in the trough orpan portion B to be forced upward into the valleys or ,V- shape chambersof the plate 20 where it will contact with the journal. The plate 20 ispreferably loosely seated on lthe trough portion B, by means of itsdownwardly bent edges telescopin'g the upwardly presented edges andsides of the trough B, so that ready access may be had to the interiorof the trough portion and thereby facilitate'the cleaning thereof aswell as the replacing of any -worn or broken parts, without thenecessity of replacing the entire device. It wouldbe understood, ofcourse, that the ends 18b of the trough portion B, like theconcavo-convex cover plate, are dishedvor concaved so as to permit thetrough portion to be brought into juxtaposition with the journal or axleC.

In order to maintain the trough B in proper relation with the journaland also prevent a longitudinal teetering movement of the device, and atthe same time provide a yielding relation between the trough portionvand the journal, I provide the springs 22, 22, which are preferablyshown in the nature of bow springs, the ends whereof rest upon theplatform 8, while their intermediate 'or bowed portions are seated in depressions or pockets 23 formed in the bottom 18 of the trough portion B;the location and construction of the pockets' :23, 23, being moreclearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In additionto the function ofmaintaining the trough portion B in proper yielding relation with thejournal or axle, these springs also assist in preventing possiblelateral movement, in the direction of rotation of the journal, on thepart of the trough or pan portion B. l The improved lubricant deviceherein shown and described permits of the device being made of sheetmetal stamped into form, so that they cost of manufacture will notv onlybe materially lessened, but the weight of the construction will also beconsiderably reduced, and at the same time a construction will beproduced r`which is less likely to become broken.

In the employment of my invention, the

device is inserted between the depending ends of the bearing after theplatform or bottom plate 8 has been secured 1n place by .erly formedcake or mass of solid lubricant,

means of suitable bolts as indicated at 9 and the springs 22 have beenput into position.

VAfter securing the platform 8 in place, the

opening 8b will receive the boss or lug 19, and thus prevent the devicefalling out of the journal bearing. Before the device, however, has beenput into place as described, it is understood, of course, that coverplate. 20 has also been put into place on the trough portion B. l

IVith the device in place, the coveror cap 13, together with plunger 11,and the intermediate spring 16, are withdrawn from the chamber or holderA so as to permit a proppreferably of a quantity suiiicienttosubstantially ill holder or chamber A, to be inserted into chamber orholder A, after which the plunger 11, together with spring 16 and cap 13are replace-d in the end of the holder, whereby the mass of lubricantwithin the 'holder will be put under pressure through the action ofcontracted spring 16 and plunger 11 and be forced into the troughportion The plunger 11 is adapted to fit securely within holder orchamber A so that the lubricant cannot escape to the rear side thereof,with the result that the constant pressure exerted on the mass oflubricant will not only force the lubricant throughout the shallowtrough B but also induce the lubricant to pass through the perforationsor slots 21 in the plate 2O and enter the longitudinally extendingvalleys in the upper surface of the plate. It is evident that `as thevalleys become filled, the lubricant 'will be brought into contact withthe revolving journal or axle; and the slight heating of the plate 20,due to its frictional engagement with the journal, will result in a moreor less softening of the lubricant and therefore induce a freer flowthereof.

It is evident from the construction shown and described, that springs 22will not only compensate for the constant vibration to which the journalis subjected, but these springs will hold the trough portion and coverplate in constant contact with the under surface of the revolvingjournal or axle, the springs in performing this function be- 11 ingassisted by the construction of the device and method of mounting thesaine. It is also evident from the construction described that thelubricant feed spring 1G is not compelled to carry any weight as in 120constructions heretofore employed, so that the spring may exert itsentire force in performing the function for which it is designed; andinstead of employing but one lubricant feed spring, several may be em-125 ployed as is readily apparent from the construction shown.

It is evident from the construction that the lubricant will beconstantly protected so that it will be practically impossible for any18@ dust or dirt to come into contact with the lubricant and the bearingsurface of the journal.

I have shown and described what I believe to be the simplest and bestform of my invention, `but the same may be modified in certain respects.without, however, de-

parting from the spirit of my invention,

and l do not wish to be understood, therefore, as limiting myself to theexact construction shown and described.

that 'I claim is 1. A journal lubricator, comprising alubricant-receiving trough of increasing shallowness toward one endthereof and adapted to be secured between the lower ends of the journalbox, an open-ended lubricant-holding portion adapted to be locatedoutside of the journal bearing and having one end communicating with thedeepest 'end of said trough, while the other end of said holder isprovided with means adapted to move lengthwise of the holdingportionwhereby the lubricant is under a constant pressure and forced in adirect line into said trough, and means intermediate of the trough andthe -bottom of the journal y box whereby the trough is yieldinglymaintained in close relation with the journal.

2.*A journal lubricator, comprising an open-ended lubricant-holdingportion, a

concavo-convex trough of increasing shall lowness toward one endthereof, the trough being adapted to be secured between the lower endsof the `journal box while the holding-portion is adapted to extendoutside of the journal box, said holding-portion having its one endcommunicating with one end of said trough, meansmounted in the free endof said holding-portion whereby the lubricant is forced in a direct lineinto said trough, means whereby movement of the trough longitudinally ofthe journal is prevented, and means whereby the trough is yieldinglymaintained in close relation with the journal.

3. A journal lubricator, compr1sing a lubricant-holding portion adaptedto be located outside of the journal bearing and to receive lubricantthrough one end thereof, pressure applying mechanism mounted in one endof said lubricant-holding portion, a trough portion integral and in linewith the opposite end of saidlubricant-holding portion, the interior ofthe trough portion diminishing in depth toward the end farthest removedfrom the pressure applyv-ing mechanism and adapted to be located withinthe journal bearing, and a foraminated cover for said trough portion.

4. A journal lubricator, comprising an open-ended lubricant-holdingportion, a lubricant-receiving ltrough of shallowness toward one endthereof while the other end is in communication with saidlubricant-holding portion, the bottom of said trough-portion beingarranged to extend at an angle to the longitudinal axis of saidholding-portion, means whereby the trough-portion is yieldinglymaintained in close relation with the journal and 'movement thereoflengthwise of the journal prevented, and meanswhereby the lubricant isforced lengthwise of the holding-portion into said trough.

5.y In combination with a journal bearing provided with a platformremovably secured therein and having a socket, of a lubricatorcomprising a holder portion provided with pressure applying mechanism atone end thereof whereby the mass of lubricant within the holder' will bemaintained under constant pressure in a lengthwise direction, a troughportion integral with the opposite end of said holder portion and incommunication therewith, said trough portion decreasing in depth towardthe opposite or free end thereof and being provided with springreceiving sockets in the bottom thereof and a depending portionadapted'to engage with the socket in said platform whereby thelubricator i is maintained in place, and av foraminated cover for saidtrough portion.

FREDERCK LOEDGE.

lVitnesses: a y

GEORGE HEIDMAN, R. E.' VIGHTON.

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